Sunday, November 30, 2008

"No Unhallowed Hand"

Any chance I can get at sharing something uplifting, I will. Thank you, Trudy, for sending this to me. I'm assuming that since this is being circulated via email, that I am okay to post it here. I have chosen to withhold the last name of the writer to protect her anononymity.

As I have stated before, I don't believe in coincidence, but I do strongly believe in miracles. I hope this story reiterates the fact that God is aware of all that goes on and watches out for each of us. We are all His children.
I have been to the Los Angeles Temple twice. Once when I was a college student when my older brother got married there, and right before I entered the MTC and was visiting that same brother. It is an amazing place. Right in the middle of the hustle and bustle of downtown Los Angeles--on West Santa Monica Boulevard--stands this quiet, peaceful haven on a hill above all the craziness around it. I guess, having experienced time here, the email I received today meant even more to me. Thought I'd share it here.


"Date: Saturday, November 15, 2008, 6:16 PM

"My dear family, brothers and sisters, friends and leaders:

"My heart is overflowing with joy and gratitude to our Heavenly Father for His tender mercies and mighty miracles in our behalf. I just have to share this with you. As most of you know, I am a Temple ordinance worker and work the morning shift in the LA Temple every Saturday. Today, I had the privilege of translating sister Martz-the new assistant Matron's-message during our devotional. She started like this 'The prophet Joseph Smith said that no unhallowed hand would be able to stop this Work from progressing. These past few weeks when mobs have combined and armies have gathered against the saints, the Lord has protected His house'. She went on to say that those, like her, who were inside the Temple when mobs were surrounding it, did not realize how scary and terrifying this looked on TV to the rest of us, because inside the House of the Lord all was calm and there was peace abundant. After Proposition 8 passed, the Temple began receiving threatening calls and mail from those opposing it. They were warned that more than 5000 people would come to the Temple and burn it to the ground, and stop Its work.

"The first Thursday when the mob came, the new LA Temple President called the Salt Lake City Temple Offices for instructions. He was instructed to call the local police and to insure the safety of those attending the Temple by closing the gates. The assistant Matron said today, that it was a tender mercy from the Lord that the mob chose that Thursday to come since they had only one person coming to receive his own endowment that day, which he received in time to leavebefore trouble started. The LAPD and the FBI responded quickly to the Temple Presidency's summons and patroled the grounds and kept the mob from entering the same. Most of them had never been there before and expressed their surprise at how beautiful and peaceful all around was. They were invited to come back during the Christmas season to see the lights and they promised they would.

"On Thursday, November 13th, sister Campbell, a secretary in the Temple, was opening the mail and upon opening a large manila envelope found inside a smaller one. When she opened this one, a white powder flew all around her desk. She thought this could be related to the demonstrators and feared the worst-ANTRAX. She contacted the President, who in turn called the Salt Lake City Temple office again for instructions. The FBI, the LAPD, and even the SWAT teams were once again in the grounds to investigate, and the Temple once again had to close from around 11:30 AM to 5PM. They closed the gates and were instructed to keep all the people there wherever they were found at the time. Those in the parking lot had to remain in the parking lot. Those entering the Temple had to remain in the first floor and those already upstairs were taken to the Celestial Room.

"Then, the miracles began to happen: A brother serving as a recorder that day is a Microbiologist by profession and used to deal with hazardous substances every day. He was the first to say the white powder in the envelope was only talc, and put every one at ease. Then the sister coordinator upstairs was impressed to call upstairs to the sealing area, and said 'They said we can't go down but no one said we can't go up, and I have many people in the Celestial room with their ceremonial clothes on ready to work. Could they do some sealings?' As it happened, there were four sealers present that day and they ran four sealing sessions non stop while the Temple was closed. Downstairs, someone else thought to invite those in the Lobby to do some initiatories, which they promptly did for all those hours too, brothers and sisters alike.

"Among those waiting in the parking lot there was a large group of young men and women with their leaders who had come to do Baptisms for the dead, and who waited patiently all those hours and decided when the Temple was reopened to go ahead and fulfill their assignment instead of driving back home. The Temple reopened in time for the 5:30 PM session. The next day when recording the ordinances, they discovered that they had performed 2000 sacred ordinances on Thursday, only one less than the day before when three stakes had been visiting the Temple. Once again the assistant matron reminded us of the words of the prophet Joseph Smith, 'No unhallowed hand can stop the Work from progressing...'.

"But, this is not all, a prophecy was fulfilled also. When the new LA Temple President was set apart by President Uchdorft of the First Presidency, he received a blessing and these words were pronounced: " The time has come for the LA Temple to come out of obscurity and become an Ensign for Righteousness to the world under your Presidency." The pictures of the Temple have been shown on TV, newspapers and the internet, not only in this country but worldwide. People of other faiths have called and sent letters to the Temple thanking the Church for defending marriage and protecting the family, and commenting how impressed they are by how beautiful and majestic the Temple looks . One minister of an African American church, who by his own admission had harbored ill feelings against the mormons before said ' I am impressed by your integrity and Christ like behavior, and even if I am not ready to consider you my brothers and sisters in Christ, we can be first cousins'

"I asked the assistant matron if I could share her comments and she said to go ahead. I can only add my own testimony that I know the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints has the power and authority of God on earth. God Lives and Jesus, His only Begotten Son and our Savior is coming soon to redeem His people. I am grateful to know this and I pray we stand firm, steadfast and immobile while the prophecies of the signs before His Coming are fulfilled. 'Be not afraid, only believe' He has said, and also ' What I the Lord have spoken, I have spoken, and I excuse not myself; and though the heavens and the earth pass away, my word shall not pass away, but shall all be fulfilled, whether by mine own voice or by the voice of my servants, it is the same.' I testify that this is true and testify it in the Holy Name of Whom I strive to serve, even Jesus Christ. Be faithful and safe is my humble prayer.

"Your sister in Christ, P. H. A."

11 comments:

Patty B. said...

We just had a talk in Sacrament meeting today that included this message. Amazing, and yet wonderful. Thanks for posting this.

Shauna said...

Beautiful! I l♥ve the Temple! Hope you are having a super Sabbath Day! ♥ Hugs :)

MERRIANNE said...

i love going to the Temple :) this is a GREAT POST~

Jeannie said...

I'm glad you shared that! What a great post about the temple. Have a great night and week!

Love tons!

Josh Alder said...

Emily and I went to the L.A. Temple in March... it was incredible (we also got kind of lost in the celestial room, but that's another story...).

It's been interesting to hear about all the commotion that's been going on near the temple. While I certainly understand the frustration felt by those who opposed Prop. 8, it's disheartening that some would go to possibly violent and dangerous extremes. I think that on any controversial issue, there are those on either side who go too far, and Prop. 8 was no different. It's just a shame such a peaceful, wonderful place like the temple becomes the center of the dispute.

I am glad to hear that many non-members have been inspired by the building as a result of their involvement in this situation. It's a testament to the eternal nature of the work that those who found themselves sequestered inside the temple were able to do so much work for others! I'm certain it was a great blessing for all involved.

vaxhacker said...

Yeah, I got that in my inbox as well. Very interesting account!

It's also been heartwarming to see how other groups who at times (well, ok, a lot of the time) have been coolly distant or even hostile toward us theologically, are rallying to at least say, "hey, the abusive nature of these attacks against the LDS is going too far."

Did you see the following written by a Rabbi in our defense?

WE ALL ARE MORMONS....by Rabbi Shifren

We are living in an era of insanity! Witness the latest attempt to remake the nature of our country, founded and established on certain principles that have been the envy of the entire world. The latest assault on our country and its values comes in the form of vicious and criminal violence against the Mormon church in Westwood, California

Interesting how the selective self-righteous indignation on the part of the radical Gay activists is played out here: they bewail the blow to freedom and justice! But I thought we just had elections, where the majority of Californians expressed their views in a free and open manner. Are we not a nation of laws? Dare we relive the McCarthy era, where Americans were harassed and threatened with the loss of their jobs for believing in a certain way? If the Gay radicals should have their way, untold numbers of Americans would live under the threat of the Gay-Lesbian "thought police," where individuals that reject the Gay lifestyle would be sought out and have sanctions brought against them.

It's bad enough for those working in the entertainment industry here in Los Angeles, where a fog of political correctness and a bending over backwards to accommodate, even promote Gay lifestyle is in full gear. Let none dare say that this type of activity is anathema to our country, our morality, and the debauchery of our young people.

Let it be stated unequivocally: The radical Gay attack on the Mormons is the shot over the bow against the United States of America. There was a time when what a man did in his bedroom was sanctified between himself and G-d. Now we are being served an "in-your-face" smorgasbord of smut and licentiousness as being between people who only "want their civil rights."

Hogwash! We are dealing with the equivalent of a moral takeover of the country that has as its bedrock a belief in G-d and His promise for humanity. They don't want civil rights! What they desire is quasi Gay/Lesbian hegemony, where a huge "book burning," reminiscent of the Nazis, will purge any remnants of the "Christian, White, mainstream America" that has given ALL AMERICANS the most profound scope of freedom, liberty, and justice that Mankind has yet to experience.

People have perhaps wondered: why the Mormons? Answer: they are a small, yet vocal Christian minority. They have been selected by the mobs as vulnerable, a group that might not have such massive support among America's Christians.

We who are friends of the Mormons, their patriotism, their family values, will not falter in our continued support of these dear Americans. Let us recall the Christian minister Niemoller, whose admonition during those dark years of Nazi Germany moved us to our core:

"When they came for the gypsies, I said nothing, because I wasn't a gypsy. When they came for the homosexuals, I said nothing, because I wasn't a homosexual. When they came for the Jews, I said nothing, because I wasn't a Jew. Then they came for the Catholics, and I said nothing, because I wasn't a Catholic......then they came for me, and there was no one left to defend me."

My fellow Americans, in the coming battle for the heart and soul of America and everything we cherish, may this call to arms be the mantra of every concerned patriot:

"WE ALL ARE MORMONS!"

Anonymous said...

This weekend I have been hearing a lot about Prop. 8, and it has been ditsurbing me to hear what people have been saying about The Church, and has made me very angry at times. This all was until I watched a video on youtube where a man from the Catholic church was appauled by the way Mormons were being treated, and said that they were not the only church to have contributed to Prop 8. I thought it was amazing how he called us friends, and said he would stand by us. This just is amazing, and made me happy to know that people who generally dont like us are on are side as our friends.

I am so happy that you shared this wonderful story on your blog, it helps me realize good and bad things are coming from this.

I also remembered this weekend when going over notes from the meeting the Youth had with the Apostle Elder Oaks, and Elder Aidukaites. Elder Aidukaites said that there would be much more persecution to come, and this was said about only 3 days before the election. How right he was.

I hope we all can stay strong and pray. I know that the Temple will be protected, and is proven in your story.

Thank you
-- Julie

Tonya said...

Wow Julie. That is an amazing story. I got an e-mail that showed pictures of the mobs. It was scary. The funny thing is some of their signs said things like,
" Mormon's Go To Hell" or " Mormon H8" but did they ever stop to think that their actions were so hurtful and hateful?? There was one picture where at the doors of the temple was spray painted "LIARS" and "Go back to Utah". I am absolutely heart touched when i hear of those from other religions that are standing by our side. I am realizing more and more how important it is that we all take a stand for righteousness. And not a silent stand. Thanks for sharing.

Anonymous said...

Thanks for sharing that Julie. It makes me so sad for the people that have such hateful feelings toward our religion. I am so grateful our church has showed such integrity in the face of adversity. It's not always easy to do what is right, but the blessings are countless from our Heavenly Father if we obey his words. How amazing that all that temple work was done!

Vidal's Nest said...

What a amazing story. My parents live in california and have told us of having security at church and the problems they have faced. I didn't realize this was happening at the temple. I just thought they were protesting on the roads outside. Scary times.
thanks for sharing.

Darilyn said...

This truly shows that the work will go forth. I am so grateful for the temple and the blessings that it gives us as members of the church.

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